Category: Indonesia Fishes

Catfish (order Siluriformes) are a very diverse group of bony fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat’s whiskers (though not prominent in all members of this order), catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores (species that eat dead material on the bottom), and even to a tiny parasitic species commonly called the candiru, Vandellia cirrhosa. There are armour-plated types and also naked types, neither having scales. Despite their common name, not all catfish have prominent barbels; what defines a fish as being in the order Siluriformes are in fact certain features of the skull and swimbladder. Catfish are of considerable commercial importance; many of the larger species are farmed or fished for food. Many of the smaller species, particularly the genus Corydoras, are important in the aquarium hobby.

Range Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan, south to Australia. Description A coppery-coloured fish with a broad blackish bar at the base of the tail up to 14.5cm in length. The upper jaw has a narrow blue streak, and a broad blackish stripe extends from the front of the snout to the eye. Easily confused with Apogon fleurieu, where the black tail bar does not narrow in the centre, but unlike this species the stripe is also present in juveniles. Habitat Inhabits holes in rocks or under ledges in shallow waters. Known to occur in mixed aggregates with Apogon apogonoides during summer and autumn, but form separate aggregates in winter and spring.

The Spotted Gill Cardinalfish (Apogon chrysopomus) is a tropical fish species that is a member of the ‘Cardinalfishes’ family Apogonidae. It is known to occur in the warm waters of the Indo-Western Pacific region and its distribution ranges from the Indo-Malay Archipelago to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. These species is easily recognised by the bright orange spots on its cheeks which are dominant in the adults whilst juveniles have black body lines. The rest of the body is dusky coloured. This species can be found living on coral reefs and can be found in shallow waters (less than 10 metres) hiding amongst branching corals. The Spotted Gill Cardinalfish (Apogon chrysopomus) grows to a maximum length of approximately 10cm.

Apogon is a large genus of cardinalfishes with 207 currently described species. Many of these fishes live at depths of 200 m or more and can only be collected using trawling or dredging and thus are rather poorly known. Other species undoubtedly await discovery.

The color of the Bicolor Parrotfish changes with maturity. As a juvenile, the coloration is white with an orange band across the face, and orange at the dorsal and caudal fins. The mature fish has a blue body with a spotted face and additional colors at the fins. The name, “Parrotfish” comes from the shape of the mouth. The teeth are fused together to form a “beak” that resembles a parrot’s.

A 300 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of swimming room is required, due to its size. The aquarium should contain live rock and hard corals (skeletons are acceptable). The Bicolor Parrotfish will eat algae off the corals and rocks, and chew on the hard corals to eat the animals within.

The diet should be supplemented with a variety of herbivore preparations, flaked foods, and meaty preparations.

The Saddled Toby is also known as the Black Saddle Pufferfish, Blacksaddled Toby, Valentini Toby, or Saddle Valentini Puffer. Members of the Canthigaster genus are called Sharp-nosed Puffers or Tobies. The Saddled Toby is a bright and colorful fish with dark brown bands across the midsection, brownish-orange spotting on the lower half, yellow fins, and blue striping running along the back. It lacks pelvic fins, but has learned to use the pectoral fins to move about the aquarium.

A 30 gallon or larger, fish-only aquarium is suitable. It will fight with conspecifics such as the filefish, large finned fish, and other tobies. It may be aggressive at times, nipping the fins of tank mates, leaving a circular hole as its mark. It will also eat invertebrates found in a reef tank. Its teeth are actually a fused beak-like structure.

Parts of its flesh are poisonous. It has the ability, when threatened or alarmed, to inflate its body to almost twice its normal size. It becomes alarmed when netted, therefore, use a container to transfer it.

The Blackspotted Puffer is also known as the Arothron Dog Face Puffer. It changes appearance during different stages of life. While in the gray phase, it is gray with black markings around the mouth, eyes, and dorsal fin. The pectoral fins have a yellow appearance. The half-yellow phase is denoted by a yellow underbelly and dark gray overcoat, while the face looks similar to the gray phase. It may also have black spots over the body, which may be gray or yellow. It very rarely changes phases while living in an aquarium.

The Blackspotted Puffer lacks pelvic fins, but is very maneuverable, using its pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins. Instead of “teeth,” it has a fused beak-like structure which it uses to crush prey.

A 100 gallon or larger, fish-only aquarium is suitable. It will eat invertebrates found in a reef tank. It tolerates other Puffers that are not more aggressive than itself. It is shy at first, and becomes alarmed when in a net, therefore, use a container to transfer it.

While “puffed up,” its spines are held straight out from the body to discourage others from trying to eat it. Parts of the flesh are poisonous if digested.

The Golden Puffer is a fish of many names including Guinea Fowl Puffer and Spotted Puffer. It changes appearance during different stages of its life. While in the black phase, it is black with white spots over the entire body. The golden phase is denoted by its rich burgundy to golden tan coloring with smaller white spots covering its body. It also has a yellow phase, during which, it is lacking the white spots. It very rarely changes phases while living in an aquarium.

The Golden Puffer lacks pelvic fins, but is very maneuverable, using its pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins. Instead of “teeth,” it has a fused beak-like structure which it uses to crush prey.

While “puffed up,” its spines are held straight out from the body to discourage others from trying to eat it. Parts of the flesh are poisonous if digested.

A 125 gallon or larger, fish-only aquarium is suitable. It will eat invertebrates found in a reef tank. It becomes alarmed when in a net, therefore, use a container to transfer it.

The Golden Puffer needs a varied diet of meaty foods including squid, krill, clams, and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth. It often hunts at night, so it may only be seen during the evening hours.